In the end, all of our laments about the tight end position in 2022 seem to have proven correct. After Week 17 only seven tight ends are averaging double-digit Fantasy points in full PPR. One of those, Zach Ertz, hasn't played for more than a month. But just because the position has been terrible this year doesn't mean it's locked in to the be this bad in the future.
At some point we still expect Kyle Pitts to perform like a star, and considering Pitts is still just 22, now is not the time to give up on that. Greg Dulcich, Cade Otton, and Trey McBride all gave us reason to hope they'd be better after their rookie years and Pat Freiermuth took a second-year leap that was overshadowed by some rotten touchdown luck.
The future of the tight end position isn't bright by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not as dim as 2022 made it out to be. Don't go changing those lineup requirements just yet.
Here's everything else you need to know about tight end in Week 18:
Thomas has seen a 24% target share in the Commanders past two games and we'd expect a pass-heavy script against a Cowboys team that should be playing its starters.
McBride caught seven of 10 targets for 78 yards and a score in Week 17. He would be the clear No. 1 waiver wire if this wasn't his first game all season with double-digit Fantasy points.
Kittle caught four passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns the last time he faced the Cardinals, and they've allowed the second-most Fantasy points to the position this season. With Travis Kelce playing on Saturday, Kittle is the top tight end on the main slate.
I'd expect a bounce back from Dallas Goedert for two reasons. One, we expect Jalen Hurts to return in Week 18. Two, he's not playing the Saints. New Orleans has been awesome against tight ends this season, and the New York Giants absolutely have not.
